Laser World of Photonics 2017: new record figures

2017-06-30

Munich's photonics trade fair continues to grow: 1,293 exhibitors presented their products to the more than 32,000 trade visitors — "record figures for the trade fair on both counts", organizer Messe München reports. 800 of the 1,293 exhibitors were from abroad. 60 percent of the visitors and Congress participants traveled from outside Germany.

More than 32,000 trade visitors to Laser World of Photonics found out about the latest trends.

“Be it autonomous driving or diagnostic medical procedures—technical progress is based on photonics and Laser World of Photonics is where companies showcase the appropriate innovations. The great importance enjoyed by optical technologies worldwide is also reflected in the increased internationality of the event,” Messe München’s Managing Director Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer said.

The sensors exhibition area grew significantly, demonstrating that the precisely controllable tool that is light, together with camera systems and contactless optical measuring technology, underpins tomorrow’s production processes. The first ever Make Light MAKEATHON, staged in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s (BMBF) Make Light initiative, proved to be a crowd puller. Within just 24 hours, 79 students and young engineers developed hardware prototypes with sonorous titles such as “Smog Dog”—a device the size of a robotic lawnmower, capable of locating air pollution or the smell of burning with its optical sensor system.

The next Laser World of Photonics will take place from June 24 to 27, 2019 and the next World of Photonics Congress from June 23 to 27, 2019.